Search Results - Slow loris

The slow lorises are three species of loris and are classified as the genus Nycticebus. These slow moving strepsirrhine primates range from Borneo and the southern Philippines in Southeast Asia, through Bangladesh, Vietnam, Indonesia, India (North Eastern India, Bengal), southern China (Yunnan area) and Thailand. They are classified as vulnerable or endangered species, and are hunted for their large eyes which are prized^[2] for local traditional medicine. The Indonesian name, malu malu, can be translated as "shy one".^[3] They are listed as endangered by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.^[4]

Adult slow lorises range in size from 21 to 38&_160;cm, depending on the species, and weigh up to 2 kilograms. The tail is a mere stump, whereas the forelimbs and hindlimbs are of roughly equal length (quadrupedal). The short, thick fur can have a variety of colours, mostly grey-reddish and often with whitish undertones. They have well developed opposable thumbs, which they use to grasp and hold fast to branches, and a very flexible back. A specialized arrangement of blood vessels in the wrists and ankles (rete mirabile) prevents muscle cramps and allows the slow loris to cling for extremely long periods of time. They have a grooming claw on the foot. The eyes are large and point forward and obliquely upward, but color vision is minimal. The ears are small and nearly hidden in the fur. They are generally more strongly built than the slender lorises, and possess a strong sense of smell.

The cranial form of the slow loris follows most of the expectations of the Strepsirhini/Prosimii suborder. To begin, the braincase is low and football/ovaloid like; neither the frontal nor the occipital lobe has expanded much. Furthermore, the frontal suture is visible and the lacrimal is located outside the eye socket. With regards to the eyes’ size, the slow loris' nocturnal behavior results in relatively large eyes. Continuing on, slow lorises have forward facing eyes and postorbital closure, but lack full orbital closure. The spatial relationship between the tympanic ring and the bulla of the slow loris is classified as being attached on the inside. Unlike the majority of other members of the suborder Prosimii, the slow loris does not have inflated bulla. Its foramen magnum is located in a more posterior than vertical position. Moving towards the more anterior aspect of the cranium, there is a separation between the two most mesial incisors that corresponds to the moist rhinarium found in Strepsirhinis. A distinguishing feature between superfamilies Lemuroidea and Lorisoidea is the loris’ relatively short, pipe-like nose, which the slow loris has. Finally, as expected, the splanchnocranium of N. coucang is on the same level as its neurocranium.